Exploring Generational Shifts (Pt.1)

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12 Thinking Shifts Among Millennials/Gen Z Christians…
(The First Six) by Wilson Adams

Cultural thinking changes aren’t just coming, they’re here. In some ways, pruning-thinking is biblically healthy. It’s okay to ask about differences between God-authority and man-tradition (the thing Jesus confronted). With significant numbers seeking to reignite their faith into greater pursuits of evangelism, their observations should force us to re-examine our own commitment. Clarity: Each may not fit all situations, but represent general shifts.

1. A shift from shallow to deep. There’s a move toward more meaningful relationships and fellowship than shallow/surface. Sadly, sometimes we fail to know the names of those with whom we worship much less areas needing prayer and time-sacrifice to meet needs. “Hi, how are you?” “Fine” -can be the extent of connection. Younger generations have a deeper stirring. The same applies to a shift from shallow teaching to more depth. Millennials ask two questions: So? (information, digging deeper) and So What? (application of information). They want BOTH.

2. A shift from public to private. A church building can be incredibly public with hundreds gathering, yet offer a lack of intimacy and depth of relations. Millennials and Gen Z are not less spiritual, but can be more so because they seek involvement on a serving/private level. They seek connection beyond public assemblies -and want to serve and be used.

3. A shift from going-through-the-motions religion to relationship. Younger generations are not interested in box checking. They don’t want to show up just to show up. They crave connection -vertical with God and horizontal with people (often lacking in a Zoom-Room culture). I see generations caring deeply about helping hurting people and wanting a faith that makes a difference.

“There arose a generation who did not know the Lord…” Historically and contextually, one generation forgot to teach and the next forgot to learn -not what this is. Millennials and Gen Z want to know the Lord. In fact, they want to know the Lord more than just knowing ‘about’ Him (big difference). Clarity: My purpose is to have a conversation -not offering commentary on each application or the specifics of situations.

4. A shift from planning to praying. They’ve noticed that the more we plan, the less we pray. That’s backwards. We need to pray more and plan less (yes, some vision-planning is good -Prov.29:18). We need to plan, but leave room for God to lead the way. As numbers shrink (reality), Millennials and Gen Z are reminding us to shift from less reliance on self to more reliance on Him.

5. A shift from gathering to scattering. We tend to place a majority-emphasis on church building gatherings (gatherings are important and God-commanded), but we also see examples of New Testament scatterings. For one thing, Christianity exploded in Century One because persecution led to scattering (Acts 8:1-4). Persecution necessitates a sifting and sifting leads to a shifting… in thinking back to “GO… into all the world.”

6. A shift from preacher-trading to preacher-training -in house. There’s a mindset similar to sports: larger churches seek up-and-coming preachers groomed by smaller churches until they are ready to “move up” to bigger churches (even though they may have no prior relationship with them). Look for more in-house development of those known by the congregation -similar to the Antioch example of Acts 13:1-3. Maybe… some Millennials and/or Gen Zs would step up if... given a chance.